Knee pad



Oct. 11, 1949. R. o. FERGUSON 2,484,494

KNEE PAD Filed April 50, 194'? Patented Get. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE KNEE PAD Robert 0. Ferguson, Bristol; T-emi.

1947 ,lSerial-'No; 744,839

Application April 30,

'7 Claims.

'thelike': One'ofthe main" drawbacks about such prior devices hasbeen the fact that while the knees of the workman may-be supported, there are no supportswhich' will enable the workman tube on his knees-for extended periods of-time and relieve the pressure" on his feet. Also, many ofthe devices, suc'h'as wheeled'carriages and the like; are bulky and hard to handle and mustbe picked'up by'the workman as hemove's from place to place.

This application is a divisional application of application Serial Number 556579; filed September30, 1944, now Patent'No.-2,432,565.

The main object of this invention is to provide a support for workmen which will support the workman in a kneeling positioncomfortable overl ongjperiods of time.

Another object of the invention isto provide a" support 'which will relieve the pressure on-the workmans-feet when the-workman is ina kneelingposition;

Still another object of the invention is towprovide a device capable of performing the abovementioned objects'which is portable andmaybe strapped. to the workmans legs in such a manner that, whenthe workman is on his feet, the device will not interfere with his free movement.

Alfurther object of the invention is to provide a kneeling support for workmen which will enable .the Workman to move readily across the floor, ground or the like and yet not interfere with his. free movement when he is on his feet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a kneeling, support for workmen which may beadjustable to fit the legs-ofthewearer.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be: obvious from an inspection ofthe' drawings and the following description thereof.

2.1 Ihthe drawings:

figure 1 is :a perspective view of the invention wherein the inaih leg shank is adjustable in length and wherein the shank is mounted on wheeledlegs j and Figure 21s a perspective View o'f'a modification offtl'ie invention showinglth'e leg shank as rigid andniountedon wheeledlegs.

Referrin to the drawings, particularly Figure 1' thereof. reference numeral Ill generally indicates the. shank. formed. in two sections, a rear section 3'! and a fionts'eotion telescoping with each other. Sections 3| and 32 are concave on their inner. sides so as to generally fit' over the or. the wearer's leg and are" of sufficient length so to extend from-a point adjacent'the wearrs a'nlil upwardly or forwardly to cover the entire fioiit portion of the wearers'leg. It will benoted'that' the shank: as disclose'cl'in Figurel, is adjustableln length so that it ma fit legs of varying" 1enetn. I

Each of sections 3"! and" 32' are provided'with tabs lrli extendingupwardly and are preferably formed: integral" with the shank; Tabs II are provided? with slots [2 through which leg straps l3 areisecured, the'le'g'straps 13 being provided with" a suitahle strap" adjusting buckle 14.

Each. section" 3| and32of the shank III is provided'withapair orlongitudinal slots 33 located oneitlier'side ofr'the shank. Bolts '34 having enlarged heads 35 arepositiorred'through the slots 33, ands suitablewingnut'as anda Washer 31 cooperate with each of bolts 34to clamp the telescoping, sections 31" and 32 rigidly'atog'ether; It willhe ohvioils from the" above construction that upon loosening; each of the wing nuts 36; sections 3 '|"arid 32inayslide relatively to'each other to extend or contract the length of the shank lu, thereby hahlih'gtheshank to assume various desired lengths:

A pliirality' oilegs' 38" are permanently and rigidly'secured'tothe'shank ID in any suitable manner; as illustrated. A: air of the 1egs"38 are secured totherearport'ion of section 31 and extend atsubstantially. right'angles' thereto while swivel 39 secured thereto and casters 40 are mounted in" the forked portion of the swivel.

3 Thus, the invention shown in Figure l is not only capable of lengthwise adjustment, but will enable the wearer to move freely about the floor or the like through the medium of the casters 40.

The modification of the invention as shown in Figure 2 comprises a shank portion generally indicated at Ill, which is formed of a single piece of light metal or the like. This shank is also provided with tabs H which extend upwardly from the shank and are preferably formed integral therewith. These tabs are also provided with slots l2 through which leg straps l3 are secured, the leg straps I3 being provided with a suitable strap adjusting buckle M. The forward portion of the shank I is upwardly flared so that the workmans knee may be flexed beyond the end of the shank. This modification also has two pairs of spaced legs 38, forked swivels 39 secured at the outer ends thereof having casters 40 mounted in the forked portion of the swivel 39, all as previously explained in connection with Figure 1.

In use, the shank I0, after being suitably adjusted to length, is strapped over the shin of the workmans leg through the medium of straps l3 and buckles l4 and the workmans leg may assume a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The workman will then be suitably supported from the floor or other surface and may move freely thereabout through the medium of the casters. It will be noted, as also shown in Figure 2, that the workmans legs will be supported upwardly from the floor surface or the like a suitable distance so that the foot of the wearer may hang downwardly and assume a natural position.

Thus, all or substantially all pressure is relieved from the workmans feet and the workman may be thus supported over long periods of time without fatigue.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising an elongated shank concave on its inner side, said shank having means for adjusting its length so that the length thereof will be sufficient to fit over substantially the entire shin of the wearers leg from a point adjacent the knee to a point adjacent the ankle, adjustable straps secured to the forward and rear end of said shank for detachably securing said shank to the leg of the wearer, means secured to the outer side of the rear portion of said shank and extending downwardly therefrom to maintain the rear portion of said shank in elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling thus supporting the lower portion of the leg above the floor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position.

2. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising an elongated shank concave on its inner side, said shank having means for adjusting its length so that the length thereof will be sufficient to fit over substantially the entire shin of the wearers leg from a point adjacent the knee to a point adjacent the ankle, adjustable straps secured to the forward and rear end of said shank for detachably securing said shank to the leg of the wearer, means secured to the outer side of the rear portion of said shank and extending downwardly therefrom to maintain the rear portion of said shank in elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling thus supporting the lower portion of the leg above the fioor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position, and rollers on said last-mentioned means.

3. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising a pair of shanks concave on their inner side, means for securing said shanks together in telescoping relationship, and means comprising a pair of legs extending downwardly from the convex lower portions of each section, there being one leg adjacent each opposite side edge of each section and extending downwardly therefrom to maintain said shanks in an elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling, thus supporting the leg above the floor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position.

4. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising a pair of shanks concave on their inner side, means for securing said shanks together in telescoping relationship, and means comprising a pair of legs extending downwardly from the convex lower portions of each section, there being one leg adjacent each opposite side edge of each section and extending downwardly therefrom to maintain said shanks in an elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling, thus supporting the leg above the floor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position, and rollers on said last-mentioned said legs.

5. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising a pair of shanks concave on their inner side, means for securing said shanks together in telescoping relationship to present an elongated shank adjustable in length to fit over substantially the entire shin of the wearers leg from a point adjacent the knee to a point adjacent the ankle, clamping bolts for securing said shanks rigidly together at their adjusted position, legs secured to the outer side of each of said shanks and extending at substantially right angles from said shanks downwardly to maintain the leg of the wearer in an elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling, thus supporting the leg above the floor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position.

6. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising a pair of shanks concave on their inner side, means for securing said shanks together in telescoping relationship to present an elongated shank adjustable in length to fit oversubstantially the entire shin of the wearers leg from a point adjacent the knee to a point adjacent the ankle, clamping bolts for securing said shanks rigidly together at their adjusted position, legs secured to the outer side of each of said shanks and extending at substantially right angles from said shanks downwardly to maintain the leg of the wearer in an elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling, thus supporting the leg above the fioor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position, and rollers on the lower portions of each of said legs.

7. A device of the character described for supporting a workmans leg when in kneeling position comprising an elongated shank concave on its inner side and adapted to fit over the shin -5 of the wearers leg from a point adjacent the knee to a point adjacent the ankle, adjustable straps secured to the forward and rear end of said shank for detachably securing said shank to the leg of the wearer, means secured to the outer side of the rear portion of said shank and extending downwardly therefrom to maintain the rear portion of said shank in elevated position relative to the floor when the wearer is kneeling thus supporting the lower portion of the leg above the floor at a substantial height to permit the foot of the wearer to hang downwardly from the leg in a natural position, and rollers on said last mentioned means, said shank being of substantially the same curvature throughout its length, and

having forward and rearward open ends whereby the leg of the user may extend forwardly and rearwardly of said straps beyond the open ends of said elongated concave shank.

ROBERT 0. FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 151,411 Marshall May 26, 1874 1,018,452 Slaughter Feb. 2'7, 1912 1,348,204 Brewster Aug. 3, 1920 1,348,683 Aldenbruck et a1. Aug. 3, 1920 1,382,883 Ashbridge June 28, 1921 1,452J360 Clarke Apr. 17, 1923 1,547,166 Davidson July 28, 1925 1,653,601 Foulke Dec. 20, 1927 2,057,992 Wiruth Oct. 20, 1936 

